Stocks edge up in early trading, near 2008 highs

NEW YORK — U.S. stocks rose at the open on Friday and looked to extend gains that have taken equities to highs not seen since before the 2008 collapse of Lehman Brothers.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 8.09 points, or 0.06 percent, at 12,992.78. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index added 1.52 points, or 0.11 percent, at 1,364.98. The Nasdaq Composite Index gained 6.14 points, or 0.21 percent, at 2,963.12.

Stocks opened higher ahead of reports on new home sales and consumer sentiment. Both reports are expected to show signs of an economy slowly gaining strength.

Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report